HOW many more privatisations must we endure before the Government realises that private is not better than public?

Railtrack and other rail ventures, Magnox transferred to private hands. They receive the revenue, we take over BNFL debts of £35b.

Yes, that's right. This is the nuclear fuel industry that was going to provide us with cheap electricity.

The private company running Islington schools has failed its targets. We have our own experience of WS Atkins, ruining the benefits system.

London's Hackney also had a bad time with the company that ran its rent collection and benefits system. It had the sense to take the service back in-house.

The privately run Young Offenders Institution has experienced riots. There aren't enough staff. No surprise there, since they get paid less than public service warders.

There have been huge problems in hospitals built and run by private companies.

Now we have the latest failure of private enterprise the Criminal Records Bureau, with a backlog of more than 18,000 applications waiting for clearance.

Schools all over the country will remain partly staffed until teachers have been cleared.

Goodness knows what we may find when our bright new PFI hospital opens.

To quote one newspaper "only a fool or a minister could still believe privatisation equals efficiency".

A LUBIN

Brunswick Street

Swindon